No-hitter puts struggling Bulldogs back on track

Before the second of Yale's two games against Fordham on Tues., Apr. 13, designated hitter Khelia Johnson, PC '00, mentioned to outfielder Anne Davey, DC '02, the age-old superstition that the term "no-hitter" should never be mentioned to a pitcher who's in the midst of pitching a hitless game. "If you talk about it," Johnson said, "you'll jinx her."

COURTESY SPORTS PUBLICITY Yale's very own Rocket, Kristen Gengaro, SY '00, pitched a no-no on Tues., Apr. 13.

It was a good thing Johnson wasn't talking to team captain Kristen Gengaro, SY '00. In the second game, Gengaro became the first Bulldog to toss a no-hitter since Jennifer Surface, DC '96, accomp-lished the feat in 1994. Gengaro's flawless effort led Yale to a 6-0 victory over Fordham, completing a doubleheader sweep of the Rams.

The Bulldogs' two wins against Fordham marked a dramatic turnaround from the previous weekend, when Yale dropped three out of its four games, losing twice to Harvard and once to Dartmouth. "The whole team looked solid against Fordham," Gengaro said. "We had such great hitting from everyone. Haley Flynn (DC '00) and Kathy Ching (BR '00) had great defensive games. They both put in 100 percent effort. But everyone did everything they were expected. We stayed focused the whole time, because we knew we had to bounce back after the horrible weekend against Harvard."

The poor showing in Beantown came as a surprise to the Elis, who felt they had a chance to knock the Crimson out of first place going into the Sat., Apr. 10 doubleheader. Harvard had routed every Ivy opponent the previous year, going 12-0 and capturing the league crown. The Bulldogs, however, were riding the crest of an 18-10-1 non-Ivy record. Having returned all of its starters from last season, including all-Ivy selections outfielder Ching, second baseman Cory Nakata, PC '99, and Ivy League Rookie of the Year outfielder Alice Liu, SY '01, Yale's confidence was soaring.

"You'd expect that with the same team returning from last season, we'd have the same results," Gengaro said. "But comparable to this date last year, our record is better. Our confidence is what's different this year. I think we've gotten more comfortable playing with each other."

"We have essentially the same ball club as last year. But our defense has made some big improvements," Coach Andy Van Etten said. "We're making plays this year that we didn't even look to make last year. Last season, we had a total of two outs at second base, and this year we already have well over a dozen."

The Elis' increased confidence and improved fundamentals—which had carried them past such formidable opponents as UConn, Vermont, and Rhode Island in the previous two weeks—seemed to collapse when they stepped on the field against the Crimson. "I think the loss to Harvard was a case of being too anxious," Gengaro explained. "Fundamentally, we were prepared."

The Bulldogs did not evince their usual self-assurance at the plate against the Crimson. In the second game of the doubleheader, which Yale lost 9-3, the Elis scored three runs in the first inning on the strength of Johnson's two-run double. The team lost its composure after Harvard took the lead in the bottom of the first, however, and Yale left the bases nearly empty for the remainder of the game.

Inconsistent pitching, which has plagued the Elis all season, also hurt them against Harvard. Although Gengaro pitched masterfully against Fordham, she was less breathtaking against Harvard, giving up seven runs in the first two innings of the second game. "Pitching has been something of a Jekyll-and-Hyde routine all season," Van Etten said. "As well as Kristen pitched against Fordham, that's how badly she pitched against Harvard."

The Bulldogs had a chance to rebound from their two losses to Harvard when they traveled to Hanover for a doubleheader against Dartmouth on Sun., Apr. 11. Led by outfielder Ginger Dunn, BR '00, who hit her first home run of the season, the Elis extinguished the Big Green, 9-1. The victory was Van Etten's 91st, making him the winningest softball coach in Yale history.

Unfortunately, Van Etten's achievement was dampened when the Elis dropped the second game to Dartmouth, 3-1. The Elis were haunted by lackluster performances at the plate, just as they had been against Harvard. "We didn't get the hits we needed in the second game," Dunn said. "And when runners were on base, we weren't able to bring them home."

Despite the early losses to Harvard and Dartmouth, the Ivy League title is not beyond the team's grasp. Although Van Etten acknowledged that the Elis "dug themselves into a hole" last weekend, he also believes that "the parity in the league is the best I've seen. I predict that no team, including Harvard, will go undefeated." If the Bulldogs can win the remainder of their conference games, beginning with a doubleheader against Cornell this Saturday, they may be able to claw their way back to the top.

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